How teaching and learning will change in the age of AI, with C. Edward Watson, PhD, and Beth Schwartz, PhD

Generative AI is rapidly transforming educational landscapes, forcing institutions to move beyond reactive policies toward evidence-based integration. Educators face significant challenges regarding academic integrity, as students increasingly use AI for cognitive offloading, which threatens the development of critical thinking skills. Research indicates that while AI can assist in syllabus design and feedback, its use in grading remains controversial and often lacks transparency. To maintain academic rigor, instructors must redesign assessments to prioritize human-led reasoning and critical evaluation over rote output. Rather than relying on unreliable AI detectors, schools should foster AI literacy by teaching students to treat AI as a collaborative partner requiring constant human oversight. Experts Dr. Eddie Watson and Dr. Beth Schwartz emphasize that the future of education depends on balancing technological efficiency with foundational learning science to ensure students retain essential cognitive and analytical abilities.